Baltimore auxiliary bishop to become bishop in Springfield, Mass.

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will soon become bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Mass.

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will soon become bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Mass. (Photo provided by Archdiocese of Baltimore)

Danae King, The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will soon move to Springfield, Mass., to serve as bishop of that diocese, the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore announced Thursday.

Rozanski, 56, has been a priest and bishop in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for almost 30 years and served at several churches in the area.

"I will remain forever grateful for the privilege to have ministered as priest and bishop in the Archdiocese of Baltimore," Rozanski said. "The formation and guidance that I have received from the dedicated archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women and laity of this wonderful church leave me humbled, yet hope-filled in answering the call to be Bishop of Springfield."

Rozanski will be the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, succeeding Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, and will start Aug. 12.

Mark Dupont, spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield, said members have already come to know and appreciate Rozanski's spirit in the day they've been acquainted.

"I can speculate the reason [he was sent to us] ... was his work with the hispanic commmunity," Dupont said. "We have a large and growing hispanic and latino community."

Dupont said it's always exciting to have a new bishop, because they are "someone from the outside who brings a new perspective."

Baltimore Archbishop William Lori said Rozanski's appointment to the church is a "blessing."

The church "will benefit greatly from his many gifts, just as we have here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where he has so generously and effectively served throughout his entire priestly and Episcopal ministry," Lori said.